Key facts
- Dubrovnik is managing overtourism through the 'Respect the City' initiative.
- The city limits cruise ship arrivals to two ships and 4,000 passengers daily.
- Day-tripper arrivals are managed via a bus webshop scheme requiring reserved slots.
- The digital Dubrovnik Pass helps manage visitor flow and recommends optimal times for attractions.
- Dubrovnik aims to convert underdeveloped tourism zones into affordable housing for residents.
- Mayor Mato Franković criticizes short-term rentals for displacing local populations.
Dubrovnik is actively managing overtourism through its 'Respect the City' (RtC) initiative, aiming to balance its popularity as a destination with the preservation of its heritage and the quality of life for its residents. The city has welcomed nearly 650,000 arrivals and two million overnight stays from the start of the year until mid-July.
Mayor Mato Franković, in office since 2017, has spearheaded strategies to control visitor flow, which previously suffered from unmanaged surges, particularly from cruise ships. Under the RtC initiative, the city now limits cruise ship arrivals to a maximum of two ships and 4,000 passengers per day, with a minimum stay of eight hours. This encourages longer stays and broader exploration beyond the historical center.
For day visitors, a bus webshop scheme requires coach operators to reserve arrival slots, allowing officials to stagger entry throughout the day. Overnight guests can utilize the digital Dubrovnik Pass, which provides access to museums and public transport while also offering recommendations for optimal visiting times to popular attractions. This digital tool helps prevent overcrowding by suggesting less busy periods.
Data plays a crucial role in Dubrovnik's strategy, with people counters installed in the Old Town feeding information to the University of Dubrovnik for trend analysis and policy refinement. Looking ahead, the city plans to redevelop underdeveloped tourism zones into affordable housing for locals, addressing a broader challenge of rising housing costs and the displacement of residents by short-term rentals.
Franković has voiced strong concerns about the impact of short-term rentals, arguing they transform living neighborhoods into tourist apartment zones and push residents out, potentially leading to a 'ghost town' experience. He noted the significant drop in the Old Town's permanent population from 5,000 in 1991 to just 1,500 currently. Dubrovnik's approach is drawing interest from other European cities grappling with similar issues, with a focus on maintaining the city's unique charm and character for future generations.